Nucleic acid

• discovered by Friedrich Miescher
• long chain like molecules composed of nucleotides
• Nucleotide


  a nitrogen-containing pyrimidine or purine

  ribose or deoxyribose

  phosphate group

  a sugar and a base form a nucleotide

  pentose (five-carbon sugar)

  codes genetic traits by controlling the production of proteins
• DNA


  stores genetic information

  directs the development of living organisms

  master blueprint for life

  constitutes the genetic material in all free living organisms
• RNA


  transfers the genetic information stored in the DNA

  directs the synthesis of proteins
• Purine


  double ring

  adenine and guanine
• Pyrimidine


  single ring

  uracil

  cytosine

  thymine